if I hire a copywriter to do some website content, how can you tell if the copy writer is not just copypasting the content from somewhere else?
I would also try copy and searching some random parts on Google. This usually does the trick. However, the best way to make sure this does not happen is by hiring a company or an individual with a solid reputation and track record.
I would try copyspace or running a search in google for bits and pieces of the article. Google is pretty good at locating full sentences
I would usually google it to see if there's any article of the same content. I also do this before writing and publishing an article.
My favorite technique is to run a google search of several sentences from the subject material. But I also check for content duplication using copyscape for the simple reason that this is the norm for plagiarism check.
I had another problem with copyscape and google. They both did not find the article that I posted on my site and on my blog. First month I assumed it could happed because they were not indexed as fast as I wanted to. Once I submitted the same article to digg.com, it quickly appeared on other websites without any backlinks to my site or my name. Did anyone have the same experience?
I have read that some free of the plagiarism tools actually steal your articles. Don't know if it's true, but beware.
submit the article to any of the plagiarism tools on the net and you would get back results indicating how much of it has been duplicate
It's important to note that passing plagiarism checking tools in no way means you can legally use the content. Check the copyright laws where you live. In the U.S. (and other countries), rewriting someone else's article would pass Copyscape, but it's a derivative work and therefore still copyright infringement unless you have the original copyright holder's permission. The best way to avoid that? Stick to the pros who specialize in your topic area so they'll have true original insight to share rather than just regurgitating what's already on the Web -- and of course, check their track record and referrals.